Autoextremist on the NASCAR bubble

[SportscarBruce]

http://www.autoextremist.com/page3.shtml#fumes

Detroit. After wading through yet another glowing article about NASCAR, this time from Fortune magazine (September 5th cover date), it's clear to me that the mainstream media and sports marketing gurus have not only partaken of the NASCAR Kool-Aid, they've had taps installed in their houses for a constant free-flowing dose of it every morning. Members of the media in a kinder, gentler era would refer to Fortune's genuflection to and canonization of NASCAR as a "puff" piece. I'm not going to be that nice. This is 2005 - and the Fortune piece (which was a complete rehash of every single other story written about NASCAR in every major media publication you can think of over the last four years) was the most blatant journalistic "BJ" tossed to NASCAR since Sports Illustrated did their cover story a couple of years ago and entitled it "NASCAR Nation."

We now have officially and collectively lost all semblance of rational thought in this country when it comes to NASCAR. The media, Madison Avenue, the burgeoning sports marketing cultists and corporate America - along with the longtime NASCAR enablers here at the Detroit-based automakers - they've all completely flipped their lids over a so-called "sport" that exists solely for the benefit of one closely held entity controlled by the France family in Daytona Beach, Florida - and in the midst of their "Aw, shucks we're just tryin' to put on a good show for the fans" persona that the France family goes out of their way to cultivate with the media, the bunch in Daytona can barely conceal their country-wide grins at what's happening.

When/if the bubble pops it'll be an opportunity for Indycar to gather up some of that sponsorship.

[SportscarBruce]

There is also some coverage of Indycar testing and the Speed World Challenge LG Corvette GT program.

[Tony Johns]

I can just see this guy's rant against the NFL: "REAL football is soccer! And even rugby is more of a sport than that overpadded, overpaid, overhyped farce!"

I honestly can't read AE's rants without chuckling and shaking my head. And I thought my stuff was bad...

[Doc Austin]

sports marketing gurus have not only partaken of the NASCAR Kool-Aid, they've had taps installed in their houses for a constant free-flowing dose of it every morning.

Pretty soon it will be a wheeled I.V. bag so they can drag it along behind them and mainline the stuff all day.

...and the Fortune piece ... was the most blatant journalistic "BJ" tossed to NASCAR since ............

........... Since LAST FRIDAY!

We now have officially and collectively lost all semblance of rational thought in this country when it comes to NASCAR.

Especially amoung the paranoid who see France family world dominance conspiracies.

........... the bunch in Daytona can barely conceal their country-wide grins at what's happening.

Who can blame them? At least they don't have open wheel's troubles.

[Lee Roy]

This guy must be on suicide watch.

[SportscarBruce]

All NASCAR pundits that drive a Monte Carlo, Taurus, or Charger because of prestigue attached to NASCAR competition raise your hand.

Now repeat the quesiton subsituting Home Depot, Bud, Tide, or Viagra.

Follow-up question, where is the ROI for the manufacturers? Me thinks that the me-too group think phenomena pointed out by Methanol Boy has some merit.

[OWNUT]

All NASCAR pundits that drive a Monte Carlo, Taurus, or Charger because of prestigue attached to NASCAR competition raise your hand.

Now repeat the quesiton subsituting Home Depot, Bud, Tide, or Viagra.

Follow-up question, where is the ROI for the manufacturers? Me thinks that the me-too group think phenomena pointed out by Methanol Boy has some merit.

I wish I knew what edition it was, but time magazine had an article about Ford and it's future. One of the main complaints Ford's dealerships had was all the new cars look the same. The new Fushion looks just like every other car and nobody wants it. Maybe people are moving away from the idea it is a Nascar car Iwant to have it.

[Tony Johns]

All NASCAR pundits that drive a Monte Carlo, Taurus, or Charger because of prestigue attached to NASCAR competition raise your hand.

Next, all IRL pundits that drive a Honda because they re-upped with IndyCar until 2009, raise your hand. Then, Champ Car fans who drive Fords because they badge the Cosworth, raise yours. And then, those who buy Lexuses (Lexii? ) because they win in Grand American, stick that paw up in the sky.

Bottom line is, people as a rule do not blindly buy cars because of their performance in auto racing anymore. There is simply too much disconnect between street machines and their racing equivalents these days. There are exceptions -- there is still the die-hard NASCAR fan that buys Ford because Ford sponsors Dale Jarrett, and there is the drifting fan or SPEED World Challenge fan that buys a BMW because he digs the way the cars perform. But those are niche folks, not the general populace.

[SportscarBruce]

This guy must be on suicide watch.

Suicide watch is way too busy with the GM and FoMoCo BOD.

[Jim Wilke]

Next, all IRL pundits that drive a Honda because they re-upped with IndyCar until 2009, raise your hand. Then, Champ Car fans who drive Fords because they badge the Cosworth, raise yours. And then, those who buy Lexuses (Lexii? ) because they win in Grand American, stick that paw up in the sky.

Bottom line is, people as a rule do not blindly buy cars because of their performance in auto racing anymore. There is simply too much disconnect between street machines and their racing equivalents these days. There are exceptions -- there is still the die-hard NASCAR fan that buys Ford because Ford sponsors Dale Jarrett, and there is the drifting fan or SPEED World Challenge fan that buys a BMW because he digs the way the cars perform. But those are niche folks, not the general populace.

We have a Lexus in the garage because my wife wanted it and hated her BMW X-5. She doesn't have the slightest clue about what manufacturer is in what series, all she knows is that she had a Lexus before the BMW and wanted another one.

And did anybody notice that this article is a rerun, originally appeared last fall?

[Doc Austin]

Bottom line is, people as a rule do not blindly buy cars because of their performance in auto racing anymore.

I bought a Porsche because of their rich history in sportscar racing, but it was a crappy car. It was big fun to drive......when it ran.

When Gianperrio Moretti took a bunch of us to lunch in his Dodge minivan, I asked him whey he didn't drive a Ferrari road car. Moretti smiles broadly and says "Ferrari............really ***ty car."

[hdolan]

What is a prestigue...

[SportscarBruce]

Edited reply: prestige

Now in turn explain how wins in NASCAR translate into sales in showrooms.

[Z28]

Bottom line is, people as a rule do not blindly buy cars because of their performance in auto racing anymore. There is simply too much disconnect between street machines and their racing equivalents these days. There are exceptions -- there is still the die-hard NASCAR fan that buys Ford because Ford sponsors Dale Jarrett, and there is the drifting fan or SPEED World Challenge fan that buys a BMW because he digs the way the cars perform. But those are niche folks, not the general populace.

It was withing the last week that I saw one more story about some company getting involved with NASCAR (it might even have been Toyota) and part of it was the usual 'NASCAR fans are very loyal to the sponsors' routine. Though it is entertaining to read some people around here claiming they buy this or that because they support the IRL, like it makes them a better fan.

When there were far fewer sponsors 25 years ago that might have been more true, so true might have been the Ford, Chevy, Mopar guy kind of thing. I certainly don't see much evidence of the blanket sponsor exclusivity among fans. For one thing there's too much sponsor/driver/car make shifting. Tide went from Waltrip in a Hendrick Chevy to Rudd then to a Ford, to Pruett, to Hamilton jr. and now a Chevy again I think. Not all those Rusty fans are going to become former Miller drinkers because they don't like Kurt Busch.

It's a great line to feed sponsors but I doubt at the $15 million level they fall for it and care much more about TV exposure.

[MPalmer]

You forgot about the Tide Pontiac with Craven, before Pontiac left for Grand-Am.

I think in today's world people watch their money way more than they used too.

They also buy their cars, not because of speedway records, but for comfort and style.

That is where Detroit has lost it style, comfort, and appeal.

Frankly, they are not appealing.

Plus alot of people today are used to cars running forever. Back in the day people bought cars every two years, becuase they were real pieces of @#&^@$&* to deal with.

Today people want a Corolla S with Leather that will last for 150,000 miles.

Not a damn Ford Fusion looking rental car, for 90,000; before it needs abunch of fixing.

Don't ge tme wrong, I own a Pontiac and belong to a GM only family; and well some days a Toyota does look appealing.

But so does NASCAR sometimes, but only at Mexico, the Glen, and Sears Point.

"I am a juge Grand-Am and ALMS Fan, that is in my mid-20's." Am I a rare species?